TROY, Ala. – Freshman Kensey Caldwell hit her first two career home runs as the Georgia State softball team split a doubleheader with Troy on Saturday, March 29 at the Troy Softball Complex in Troy, Ala. The Panthers won game 1 6-4 before falling to the Trojans 9-6 in game 2.
GSU is now 15-18 overall and 1-4 in the Sun Belt, while Troy is 15-20 this season and 1-5 in conference play.
Game 1
Center fielder Ashley Christy and second baseman Kensey Caldwell drove in three and two runs, respectively, to lead Georgia State to its first Sun Belt win with a 6-3 victory over Troy in game 1 of a doubleheader.
Caldwell opened the scoring with her first career home run in the top of the second to give GSU a 1-0 lead. Troy opened the bottom of the third with two singles to put runners on first and second. However, Panther starter Kaitlyn Medlam recorded a strikeout and then forced a groundout and pop-up to protect Georgia State's 1-0 lead.
Both sides were retired in order in the fourth inning. Shortstop Taylor Anderson opened the top of the fifth with a walk before Christy blasted a two-run homer to extend the Panthers' lead to 3-0 after five complete.
Caldwell, pinch hitter Taylor Thorpe and Christy all drove in runs in the top of the sixth to put GSU up 6-0. In the bottom of the frame, Troy put runners on first and second with no outs. Then Medlam forced a groundout and two pop flies to protect Georgia State's lead after six innings.
After a strikeout opened the bottom of the seventh, Amanda Winters and Michelle Phelps hit back-to-back home runs to cut the Panthers' lead to 6-4. Medlam then forced a groundout to end the game and clinch Georgia State's first Sun Belt win.
Medlam improves to 9-7 after pitching a complete game. She allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out seven while walking one. The win was Medlam's 51st of her career which ties her for fourth on GSU's career wins list. With her second strikeout of the second inning Medlam passed Madi Gore for fourth on Georgia State's career strikeout list.
Game 2
GSU fell to Troy 9-6 in game 2 of the doubleheader on despite home runs by Kensey Caldwell, MeQuilla Franklin and Lauren Coleman. This game marked the fourth time this season the Panthers have hit three homers.
After a scoreless first inning, Troy grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Chelsea Eytel opened the scoring with a RBI single to right. Then Alison Milam plated a run with a sacrifice fly.
Georgia State was held scoreless in the top of the third before the Trojans scored four in the bottom half on four hits to extend their lead to 6-0. The Panthers got onto the scoreboard in the top of the fourth when second baseman Caldwell and designated player Franklin blasted back-to-back home runs. First Caldwell hit a two-run homer, her second of the day, then Franklin followed suit with a solo shot to center to make it a 6-3 game.
Taylor Smartt hit a solo home run of her own in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 7-4 game. In the top of the fifth, catcher Mandy Blackwell reached with a lead-off single up the middle. She advanced to second on a wild pitch and center fielder Ashley Christy reached on a throwing error by the Troy shortstop to runners on first and second. Then first baseman Lauren Coleman launched a three-run bomb to cut the Trojan lead to one at 7-6 after five complete.
In the bottom of the sixth, Mackenzie Kayler hit a two-run home run, Troy's second and the fifth of the game, to push the Trojan advantage to 9-6 after six innings. Georgia State was retired in order in the top of the seventh as Troy secured the 9-6 victory.
GSU starter Eron Milton falls to 3-4 after the loss. Troy starter Ashley Rainey improved to 4-3 with the win. Sara Mock pitched the final 2.1 innings to earn her second save of the season.
The Panthers and Trojans will play the final game of the series on Sunday, March 30 starting at 1 p.m.
